South Carolina Supreme Court reprimands DMV lawyer

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A lawyer for the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has been reprimanded by the state Supreme Court.

The Post and Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/TLdBGf ) reports the justices ruled that Frank Valenta violated rules of professional conduct by communicating with judges and not with defendants on appeals of traffic tickets.

The reprimand last month from the Supreme Court didn't carry any additional penalties like a fine or a suspension.

DMV spokeswoman Beth Parks said Valenta will remain with the agency.

Authorities say Valenta sent letters about return traffic tickets during appeals to judges and defendants with attorneys, but not to defendants who represented themselves. The letters were about Valenta's concerns he might break state law if he followed orders by judges to return the tickets.